It’s hard to fathom but The Notorious B.I.G.’s seminal masterpiece from 1994, Ready to Die, officially turns twenty. The album is, to this day, renowned in the hip-hop community not only for its incredible longevity but its stark storytelling about growing up in the ghetto and experiences as a young criminal. The album was significant in pushing hip-hop as an art form and critics took note, praising Biggie for his poignant, semi-autobiographical lyrics and vivid imagery. We thought it would be fitting to look back at these said lyrics, primarily those that are still ill to this very day.

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